ABSTRACT
Cystatin C is an emerging parameter for the assessment of renal allograft function. The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of serum cystatin C (SCys) with the established parameter serum creatinine (SCr) in the assessment of renal function in renal transplant recipients (RTR). The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 renal transplant patients and 29 control subjects was determined using (99m)Tc Diethylene-triamine-penta-acetate (DTPA) method. SCr was measured using an automated Jaffe's assay and SCys was measured using latex particle enhanced turbidimetric immuno assay (PETIA). The modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula was used to calculate GFR from SCr, while the Le Bricon formula was used to derive GFR based on SCys. Statistical analysis was performed using MedCalc software. SCr and SCys levels were significantly higher, while DTPA clearance was significantly lower in RTR (P < 0.0001) when compared with controls. The correlation coefficient (r value) between calculated GFR based on MDRD method and DTPA clearance was 0.343 (P = 0.06) while the calculated GFR based on Le Bricon formula was 0.694 (P < 0.001). The results have shown that SCys is a better parameter than SCr in assessing renal function in RTR. The inclusion of SCys as an additional parameter would certainly help in detection of even a marginal decline in renal function and also in adjusting the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs.
ABSTRACT
Plasma cystatin C is an emerging parameter to assess kidney function. Its utility in assessing the adequacy of hemodialysis in patients with end-stage-renal disease has however not been established with certainty. This study was therefore carried out to assess the usefulness of serum cystatin C estimation in patients undergoing low flux membrane hemodialysis. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were estimated in 20 patients before and after undergoing hemodialysis. The mean serum creatinine decreased from a pre-dialysis value of 7.72 mg/dL to a post-dialysis value of 2.90 mg/dL. On the contrary, the mean serum cystatin C levels were found to increase from a pre-dialysis value of 5.97 mg/L to a post-dialysis value of 8.25 mg/L. Therefore, serum cystatin C cannot be used to monitor dialysis adequacy. It however, serves as a surrogate marker of the inadequacy of low flux membrane bicarbonate hemodialysis in clearing low molecular weight proteins from the circulation.
ABSTRACT
Protective effect of ethanolic extract of polyherbalformulation (PHF) of three medicinalplants was studied on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. Treatment with 250mg I kg b.w. of ethanolic extract of PHF protected rats against carbon tetrachloride liver injury by significantly lowering 5'NT, GGF, GDH and SDH and bilirubin levels compared to control group of rats. Normalising the effect of these parameters indicates strong hepatoprotective property of the PHF extract.
ABSTRACT
Ethanolic extract of Naringi crenulata or liminonia crenulata leaves was investigated for Phytochemical and Antimicrobial activities. The macroscopic characteristics of leaves, physical constant values, extractive values, behavior on treatment with different chemical reagents of the powdered leaves. Naringi crenulata were studied to fix some pharmacognostical parameters and preliminary phytochemical studies on ethanolic extracts of the leaves were also performed. Antimicrobial activities against two bacterial strains - Bacillus subtilis, Klebsilla pnemoniae and two fungal strains Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp. among the various leaf extracts maximum antimicrobial activity was exhibited by standard antibiotic.
ABSTRACT
The aerial parts and seeds of Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae) are used in exotic medicine systems. In the present study, a preliminary phytochemical and few pharmacological profiles were under taken. The physical constans, extractive and ash values were examined. The presence of secondary metabolites in the aerial parts and seeds showed that Swietenia macrophylla is a good source of active principles. TLC studies were done by treating dry treating dry powder of Swietenia macrophylla with various acids, iodine and ferric chloride solution and UV and Visible light.
ABSTRACT
There plant species of medicinal and vegatational fire break importance such as Berberis tinctoria, Elaegnus kologa and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa were identified in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and their eco-physiological behaviors were analysed. The study revealed that generally all the there species were having shorter period of seed dormacy, poor viability of seeds and higher mortality of saplings. These poor eco-physiological features are the major factors for their limited distribution, lesser population and weaker establishment. Hence to overcome these factors the modern reproductive strategies like tissue culture techniques are suggested.
ABSTRACT
Grass Hills ecosystem lies in Anaimalais. The western ghats possesses rich biodiversity, The annual summer fire, an integral part of this ecosystem, promotes the ecological status of certain perennial grasses including the dominant grass. Chrysopogon zeylanicus Thw. On the other hand, some medicinal plants Viz., Impatiens tomentosa Heyne, Drosera peltata Sm Osbeckia parviflora Arn., Emilia sonchifolia Dc. Lecanthus penduncularis Wedd. And Lobelia nicotianifolia Heyne were identiflora Arn. Emilia sonchifolia Dc. Lecanthus penduncularis wedd and lobelia nicotianifolia Heyne were identified as fire threatened species and it has been observed that their sociological attributes were hampered severely by fire. Hence, the conservation of such species is needed through effective fire control measures.
